This was our 3rd trip to Puerto Rico, first land trip lasting more than a couple of days, so we were hoping to really get to see a whole lot of Puerto Rico this time around. We were invited to join a long time friend and his family on a convention they were attending. The Ritz PR has it's own casino. The usual style of decor found in most all of the Ritz's, traditional/conventional furnishings. (not so much my taste) Our friend had a ground floor suite looking out to the pools, we had a standard room on about the 4th floor, we later moved to the floor just above our friends suite.

The pool was nice, large... sectioned off. Jacuzzies

The Ritz sits on it's own beach. Little to no waves, brown sand, to my disappointment, merky brown water.

The week was organized around the convention, A golf day (my husband spent a day golfing while I lounged by the pool), pirate themed night with live music and dinner on the beach, we had something to attend each evening, kareoke night with dinner in the outdoor setting, another night we had a 5 course sit down dinner with live singers entertaining us . We also ventured out and about with our friends and on our own throughout our stay.

We hung out by the pool most of the first few days, checking out the beach, working on our tans. At night we walked around, to the local store, over to another hotel/casino, enjoyed the jacuzzi and hung out in the Ritz casino with our friend watching him gamble. (we are not gamblers)

The pirate night was soo much fun, rum punch flowing. Pirates all about. Kids had activities. Lots of photo ops (the hotel had pirate vinettes set up). Our friend sang with the band.

The kareokeen night was in an outdoor rooftop area, it was way too hot and humid, so we stayed a short time, enjoying some yummy appetizers and drinks then back to our friend suite to hang out.

One of my daughters girlfriends, who is Puerto Rican, we had been discussing my trip, she said I had to visit this little island called Culebra (cobra island). To my excitement after sharing with my friend, he made it happen!!!!!! He got on the phone with the concierge, rented a small plane...

*Travel Tip: Bug spray, sand fleas

*** ✈ Excursion to Culebra Island, you can get around this island on scooter... We rented a car once we landed. Thank god I brought a drivers license, because no one else did, and without one we wouldn't have been able to get a rental car... We rented snorkel gear at a nearby shop and then drove in search of the beach... white sand, clear blue water...

*Travel Tip: Don't forget to bring an I.D. for renting a car

Our friend had the Ritz pack a lunch for all 9 of us.. sandwiches, chips, fruit, water, we enjoyed a picnic in the tree shade along the beach.

There was an old tank just sitting midway down the beach, we took a stroll down and back. A few yachts were anchored out and there was one section of beach loaded with locals... we snorkeled through out the day.

My husband took some pretty awesome snorkeling photos! (too many to upload all, so here's a few)

The last few days, Jeff and I rented a car and checked out the island, we had a few things that we really wanted to do and see... We ventured off as far East as we could go in a day, getting back before nightfall. Fajardo... We drove through lots of lush landscape... checked out a tropical forest, cool tower (spectacular views) waterfall, sampled Puerto Rican food at an outdoor market, beaches... the day ended with a beautiful sunset!

We ended up racing back to the hotel to change and meet up in Old San Juan for dinner with friends and a large portion of the convention group... Old San Juan is a great city, cobblestone streets, tons of stores, restaurants and the place to go for night life!Parking is tough.

We missed dinner but hung out awhile while others finished up, the night life was going off... everyone jumped into limos and us and our friends into our car. We went to check out a hotel (seashell pearl interior/roof). Later, we headed back to our room to pack for flight home in the am.